percy bysshe shelley(1792~1822) age of romanticism ode to the west wind ( selected verses )
TRANSCRIPT
Let His Ode SPEAK you!
Shelley~ prominent figure of Romanticism
His Philosophy of ”Free- Thinking” enlightens the Humanity!
Romanticism~ 18th to 19th century
Focuses on passion and inner struggle
Creative Spirit is more important than the strict adherance to Tradition!
Dialog between Shelley and the personified West Wind
Shelly: Oh! West Wind of the Autumn Season, the driving force over land,sky and under the ocean; I beg you to listen to me!
You are the destroyer and preserver!
Thou on whose stream,mid the steep sky’s commotion
Loose clouds like earth’s decaying leaves are shed, shook from the tangled boughs of Heaven and Ocean
Angels of rain and lightning
Dialog between Shelley and
the personified West Wind
West Wind: “ No doubt I am the destroyer, for I cause great
commotions in the sky driving fierce winds;
I bring Black rain, lightening and hail.
I am the fierce Maenad!”
For whose path the Atlantic level powers
Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below
The sea-blooms and oozy woods which wear
The sapless foliage of the ocean.
If I were a deaf leaf thou mightest bear;
If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;
As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need.
Oh! Lift me as a wave , a leaf, a cloud!
Fall upon the thorns of life !I bleed!
Dialog between Shelley and the personified West Wind
Shelly: “Though you drive the stormy clouds and penetrates the Atlantic mounting surging waves I beg of you : Lift up the Dead Thoughts within me and carry them away just as you would uplift the Dead leaves of Autumn!”
One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.
Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is:
Be thou me, impetuous one!
Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawakened earth.
Dialog between Shelley and the personified West Wind
Shelly: “Oh!West Wind,make me as tameless,mighty, and impetuous as you are!Let me be your lyre, composer of mighty harmonies and visions; And that the fire of free-thinking may revive. You are the fire preserver!”
Dialog between Shelley and the personified West Wind
West Wind: “Though I destroy as well as preserve, yet I am unable to create. The Ashes and Sparks I revived are your words and visions that will enlighten the civilization.Yet how will these driving powers for humanity and free-thinking continue to spring out from such a young and revolutionary mind as you?”
The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave,until
Thine azure sister of Spring shall blow